The Maine Women’s Gala & Auction, “Bidding to Break the Glass Ceiling,” fundraiser for the Maine Women’s Policy Center, with live and silent auction, live music, 5-9 p.m., $75 admission, Holiday Inn By the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland, tickets not available at the door, to preregister call 622-0851 or mainewomenspolicycenter.org.

Developmental Disabilities Public Forum, hosted by The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council and the Disability Rights Center of Maine, 3-5 p.m., free and open to public, Rooms 109/110, Abromson Center, USM Portland.

The Food Share, held by First Baptist Church Food Ministry, perishable food items available every Sunday from 5-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 346 Main St., Yarmouth, enter at side door on Center St., Meagan, 846-3087.

The Cedars welcomes volunteers to help with activities and special events, including young child/parent and pet visits, 630 Ocean Ave., Portland, 772-5456.

Compass Project needs volunteers with tools, carpentry or boat skills for the boat building festival and youth boat building classes, 774-0682 or compassinfo@maine.rr.com.

Coastal Studies for Girls, volunteers needed to help launch a residential science and leadership semester school for high school girls, based at Wolfe’s Neck Farm, Freeport, many opportuntities for a detail-oriented, efficient volunteer with excellent computer and communication skills, call Margaret Martin, 865-9700 or margaret@coastalstudies.org.

Cumberland County Extension Association seeks people to serve on its executive committee, meets third Wednesday every month from 7-9 p.m. at Barron Center, Portland, 800-287-1471 or aherr@umext.maine.edu.

Deliver Meals on Wheels, mileage reimbursement, flexible days and weeks, one to two hours a day, 800-400-6325.

Fiddlehead Center for the Arts is looking for volunteers for ongoing projects and special events, earn credits in exchange for classes, ages 16+, Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, 383 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, 883-5720, fcascarborough.org.

Freeport Community Services and Center needs people to help make a difference, 865-3985.

HART, Homeless Animal Rescue Team, a no-kill cat shelter in Cumberland, is looking for volunteers who love cats to help in the shelter, 3-4 hours in the morning, one or two days a week, call 829-4116 or 846-3038.

Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center volunteers needed to help people with disabilities experience riding, call Vickie 929-4700, or 807-7757.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Portland needs volunteers for student-centered tutoring, education for nonliterate adults and English as a Second Language instruction, 780-1352 for training information.

Business Workshops, Women’s Business Center and Maine Small Business Development Center hold small business workshops online; for information and registration, 882-7552 ext. 167 or e-mail sll@ceimaine.org.

Downeast Dames, study and invest in the stock market in a social atmosphere, meets once a month, Freeport High School, 30 Holbrook St., Freeport, 865-1220 or 729-7673.

Divorce Perspectives, a support group for people in all stages of divorce, meets Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Ave., Portland, call 232-1667 or info@divorceperspectives.org.

Young Widows and Widowers Group open to people age 50 or younger meets twice a month on Friday evenings at The Center for Grieving Children, Portland, Valerie Jones, 775-5216 for information or to schedule an initial meeting.

Just for Seniors

The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Southern Maine Agency on Aging is looking for people age 55 and over to volunteer at an arts center in Portland; school mentoring or tutoring; spend time with residents in long term care facilities; volunteer as a tax aide or at a nonprofit, Priscilla Greene, 396-6521 or 1-800-427-7411 Ext. 521.

Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks volunteer mentors (must be 18+) willing to commit one year and spend eight hours a month with a child 6-14 who lives in a single parent home, contact Brunswick office at 729-7736 or bigbbigs@bbbsbathbrun.org.

The Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network, a program of Catholic Charities Maine, is looking for volunteers a few hours a week to assist seniors by providing companionship, transportation, assistance with errands and telephone reassurance for elderly and disabled people who live in Sagadahoc County and the Brunswick area, Martha Cushing, 837-8810; meetings 6-7:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, Patten Free Library, Bath, 837-8810.

Home to Home, an organization providing a safe place for parents to exchange children for visitations, needs volunteers, commitment of 1-2 hours per exchange period, police check and training required, Mid-Coast Hospital, Brunswick, Rich Siegel, 837-4894, mainehometohome.org.

Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority seeks volunteers for the Great State of Maine Air Show & Business Aviation Expo, August 26-28, 2011, for information and non-profit grant opportunities, visit greatstateofmaineairshow.us or call 725-9701.

Spectrum Generations has volunteer opportunities in program development, outreach, and reception at its new Community Center at 12 Main St., Topsham, Debbie, 729-0475.

Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid Coast Maine needs volunteers to provide support and information to callers on 24-hour hotline, 725-2181.

Gardens/Outdoors

Friday 10/1

Regular Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, lantern lit walks in Bath in The Lady in the Red Cloak, 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, for all ages, $10 for adults, $7 for children under 12, free for children under 5, by reservation only, 380-3806, redcloakhauntedhistorytours.com.Saturday 10/2

Regular Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, lantern lit walks in Bath in The Lady in the Red Cloak, 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, for all ages, $10 for adults, $7 for children under 12, free for children under 5, by reservation only, 380-3806, redcloakhauntedhistorytours.com.

Sunday 10/3

Regular Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, lantern lit walks in Bath in The Lady in the Red Cloak, 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, for all ages, $10 for adults, $7 for children under 12, free for children under 5, by reservation only, 380-3806, redcloakhauntedhistorytours.com.Tuesday 10/5

Care Support Group, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine and Mid Coast Hospital provide an education-based support group for survivors of sexual violence who are pregnant; participants may bring a support person, 373-6500 or 725-2181.

Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, support groups for survivors of sexual violence, includes sexual assault, sexual abuse as a child and sexual harassment, open to nonoffending parents and partners, 725-2181 to schedule a pre-group meeting.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick is accepting applications for “Littles,” girls ages 6-14 that live in single parent homes to participate in “The Big and Little” program, a mentoring program that matches a child with an adult community mentor (Big Sister) in a one-on-one friendship. There are Big Sisters currently waiting to be matched with Littles. Please Contact Aurora Joseph, Match Support Specialist, 729-7736 or community@bbbsbathbrun.org to enroll your daughter.